Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-22

The next day about the same hour the American repeated his discovery MT. Mexi- can, in all his glory, was at tho upper win dow, and the one sided pantomime for the benefit of somebody in the hotel was still going on. This hotel was the one most patronized by visitors from the states The American minister was living there So were the representatives of big American syndicate engaged in consummating a land deal. Altogether there were probably as many American as Mexican guests. What if this persistent gallant was trying to force his unwelcome attentions upon an American ladys The thought enough to start throb of patriotic indignation. The Ameri- can went on about his business, but he said to himself, with a menacing look toward the supposed masher, Somebody will be kicked down stairs before he is much older"
 That night MT. Fresh, the American, got together two or three of his fellow country men at the hotel, told what he had seen and invited suggestions as to the proper remedy. Tho Americans listened, looked st each other and grinned. There was one in the party a six footer from West Point In his minds eye the discoverer of the masher had already seen the big lieutenant administering pun< ishment to the impudent Mexican. But the widest grin of all was that which spread over the army mans face.
 My friend" said the American lieutenant, "you've run up against case of hacer el oso. In other words, you now know what doing the bear act means in Mexico"
 One of the curious social customs of the sister republic bars the door when two young people become engaged to be married Thenceforward the lover visits his beloved only in the presence of the rest of her family and at formal intervals. In lieu of ''sitting up" with his girl he "does the bear act" This consists in finding an advantageous position which commands view of the sen orita's window, and taking possession of it during leisure hours. Long loving looks are exchanged, also pantomime, and occasion ally when the street is deserted the maiden will come from behind the lattice, and stand ing on the balcony carry on 8 rather re- strained conversation with the wooer on the pavement below or perhaps across the street. This is what is called ''doing the bear act" Tho young Mexican whose queer conduct opposite tho hotel had excited indignation was not Q masher, but an exemplary young gentleman of most honorable intentions He was the accepted lover of high born sen orita, whose father had apartments in the hotel, and he was pursuing his courtship ac- cording to the customs of his country It would have been a sad mistake to have kicked him down stairs and might have led to international complications.
 Sometimes engagements are protracted in this country by circumstances over which 1 the lovers have no control. In these cases the bear act'' goes on season after season until everybody for blocks around gets in the way of expecting to see the faithful swain put i'll his appearance at a certain hour of | the day and misses him almost as much as the girl does if he stays away. Instances where lovers have kept up this wooing at distance for three and four years are told of. The custom is not often waived. But bluff old Gen. Mier y Teran set society at defiance not long ago. His adopted daughter had be- come engaged to worthy young gentleman. l The latter had hired the use of a room in a house across the street and had begun to carry on the usual pantomime.
 sTell him to quit that,' said Gen. Teran to the ladies of his family, land to come here and see the girl whenever and much as he likes. They going to be married i'll a couple of months and there needn't be any nonsense about it."
 The young man came. Everybody talked, but the comments didn't bother the old gen. eral half as much as tho buzzing of so many flies would during his siesta.
 An American railroad engineer on the Mexican National, who married Mexican lady, told how he put his foot down against the idea that an engaged couple must be al lowed no privacy. After it had been ar- ranged that there was to be Q wedding he went to see his betrothed. Tho members of her family, one and all, came into the room immediately and endeavored to make things agreeable for him. They sat him out and he went away disappointed. Tho second visit was no different. Mother, sisters, brothers and even tho father remained in the room all the time.
 ''The third time I called," said tho engi- neer, "I took the old gentleman one side and reasoned with him. He said it was the GUS tom of the country not to leave engaged peo- pie by themselves. told him it wasn't the custom of my country, and I didn't like it. If l was to be trusted with the girl after marriage could be trusted with Ser before. If I couldn't visit the house and see her by herself l would stay away for good. That brought the old gentleman to terms. He consulted the rest of the family and then an. nounced the decision-that I was to be per. mitted to do my counting the American way After that when I went to call the other members of the family would greet me all round and then get up and file out of the room, formally and solemnly, as if they were doing something very serious. When got ready to leave, the whole family, under the lead of the old gentleman, would march il and bid me good night The programme wa. a little embarrassing at first It was carried out in such way as to make me feel that { great deal was being conceded to me-"
 The engineer, who is an intelligent man
 went on to talk about his relations with hi wife's family after marriage. He said they always made him feel at home when he wis
 tied there, and he gave it as his conclusion
 from personal experience and general ob
 servation, that the Mexican mother-in-law Ii
 model. When the senorita becomes tn,
 sonora she is expected to cleave to her bus 7 band, and she gets no encouragement or sym pathy from the mother for her marital griev
 ances. .-Globe-D Democrat.
 Senators Eelmunds Hoar, Sherman ans
 Eustis read French like native Parisians.